Reviews by Others From The Online Anime Store

New Reviews

 

I have a few people writing reviews for every now and then. I met both of these people through the anime app Anime Amino.Both are great writers and I really appreciate their work. I can not really put the full review on here because I feel that is false advertisement. I will just simply place the first paragraph up and let you decide if you would like to read the rest. Thank you to everyone who does read and I am sure they appreciate it as well.

Reviews by GazerockGirl

Inazuma Eleven Review

 

I do not watch a lot of sports anime, but this one really sparked my interest and after watching it, I really enjoyed it. Inazuma Eleven is a soccer anime that adds the twist of having super powered moves known as hissatsu techniques to soccer. The anime focuses on the main character and his soccer team that strives to defeat the enemies that try to destroy their soccer along with making new friends and allies. There are more seasons such as Inazuma Eleven Go and Chrono Stone, however I think that the original is the most entertaining. Read More.

Kitchen Princess Review

I love shoujo, so when I found out about Kitchen Princess, I decided to try it out and it was actually very good. Revolving around cooking and the main character, Najika, trying to find her mysterious “Flan Prince”, I couldn’t help but find it a pleasant read despite the lack of character development. Read More.

Reviews by dabberdoob

Kaichou wa Maid-sama

A friend of mine actually recommended Kaichou wa Maid-sama for me once she found out I enjoy romance. I was reluctant to watch it at first, because it seemed like the typical “good girl falls in love with popular guy” type of plot, so I was surprised at the fact that I couldn’t stop watching it. Read More.

Diabolik Lovers 

Yui Komori, the female protagonist of Diabolik Lovers, has just moved into the Sakamaki household, a mansion that is currently the home of six vampires. As she gets to know them in ways she probably didn’t want to, she slowly learns about their pasts. This takes up a majority of the episodes. The main plot does not occur until the last few episodes, but the ending hints at a possible second season. Read More.

Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki Manga Review

Manga Cover

I love picking up random mangas and then falling in love with them. This is exactly what happened with Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki. It deals with paranormal activities and people being able to use certain powers. Each person is classified differently by their powers. Ao and Nanaki search for these cases and solve them. Although I feel like the ending was left open for another volume or a continuation, but it ended nicely.

Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki Plot

Ao and Nanaki

Nanaki is hit by a car at the beginning of Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki. After that he is able to use certain powers. A boy named Ao comes after him and explains he is from and organization called Lock. There other people have the same abilities or completely different ones. They pair up and search out for paranormal activities and solve the cases. Each chapter deals with different stories. Nanaki has to be able to control his teleportation and heavens abilities. He is powerful in a pinch but can not command his powers at will sometimes. Ao is a really mysterious kid. He may look sixteen but he is actually twenty. Nanaki senses something is wrong with him, but will never admit it to Ao. Instead he speaks to Gunji his "boss". He really doesn't tell him anything until the end of the manga. Between puppets, vampires, ghosts, and fortune tellers, the two deal with everything paranormal in this manga.

Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki Characters

Nanaki and Ao

Nanaki is a hard headed high school student with new found abilities. He wants to save everyone and find out what these new abilities mean. He is cocky and really into the ladies, although he is not lucky. He mostly stays in trouble. Ao is a quite kid with a mysterious past. He keeps quiet and tries to hold a strong front to everyone. Gunji is the leader of the group and is very calm. He is mature and makes them train often. Satsuke and Kanade are two female Nouryokusha user. Kanade can touch things and see the things from the users point of view while Satsuke has super human strength. The cast of characters are really great. They are essential to the story. Not all of them are explained like Satsuke and Kanade, but as far as teh main characters go, their story is told.

The Nouryokusha of Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki

Nouryokusha

Nouryokusha are people with the ability to use certain powers. Whether it is teleporting or healing, any power is available here. Ao has the ability to heal wounds and change his special rod into anything he wants. Nanaki can teleport, use heavens ability, an has psychic abilities. Satsuke has super strength while Kanade can know things about a human from touching personal stuff. Gunji is really mysterious. He has powers but he never really uses them. Other poweres include telling the future, living forever, and so much more. Really not alot is explored when it comes to the powers. Nanaki and Ao are the only two who continuously use their powers and sharpen their skills in the manga.

Like I said Chou Shinri Genshou Nouryokusha Nanaki was a great manga. It is not a long manga, but it is not short. With supernatural powers in the story as well as chasing after ghosts, vampires, and the such, you can not go wrong. If you happen to see this manga, then pick it up and read it, you will not be disappointed.

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Overall Grade 9/10

Yesterday, Yes A Day Manga Review

Manga Cover

This was a really cute romance manga. Yesterday, Yes A Day is about a boy who leaves a girl behind to go to a better school. When he comes back, he comes back with new found feelings for her. Although she takes a while to catch on, the two remain good friends. She gets annoyed with him, makes him jealous, and then the two eventually get together. A really good manga, but a really typical love story. Yesterday, Yes A Day is worth the quick read.

Yesterday, Yes A Day Plot

Haruno and Takiji

Takiji leaves Haruno behind to go to a different school while the two are still in middle school. Now it is the first year of high school and Takiji has returned home. Since Haruno's dad works late she spends most of her time at Takiji's grandmothers house (even while he was gone). His grandmother gives the responsibility of watching over him to Haruno. Well Takiji rarely talks and really only talks to Haruno's brother, Subaru. He confesses that he has feelings for Haruno. Subaru really does not seemed that surprised. Finally Takiji tells Haruna by the end of chapter three. She yells at him and thinks it is a joke. She really does not know how to take it. Eventually as memories come back to them from childhood, she falls in love as well. The two end up happily ever after.

Yesterday, Yes A Day Characters

Chapter Two

 Haruno is a hard headed girl. She has been given the task of watching over Takiji. They are both clumsy and very accidental. He rarely speaks while she talks his head off. They both love to reminiscence about the past. Subaru, Haruno's older brother is a bit of a trouble maker. He gets all the girls and really goes through them. Even though, Rui, Haruno's friend, still loves him. She has had a crush on him for a long time. She is a bit more quiet, but still popular like Haruno.

The characters are realistic and the setting is something that could actually happen, or as I am sure has happened. I really loved this manga! Yesterday, Yes A Day was really cute and a great Slice of Life. The two really deserved to be together and though it took them a while to figure it out, they eventually did. I would recommend this manga to anyone who loves romance or slice of life mangas. Yesterday Yes A Day is not a manga you want to skip over, plus it is only one volume long.

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Overall Grade 7/10

Darker Than Black Manga Review

Manga Cover

Reading the first Darker Than Black, I had no idea what to expect. I knew it was a popular anime, but I did not know what about. I must say, I was impressed with it. Darker Than Black makes you think about what you would have to give up in order to gain incredible power.

Darker Than Black Plot

Hellsgate

Darker Than Black revolves around a girl named Kana Shinoh. Her father has recently died, and she is still struggling with the death. That is until one day she sees her father in the busy streets. Unknown to her, he has become a Contractor. She begins to follow him to learn what happened and why he will not see er. She ends up being saved by another Contractor, Hei. The real reason why Hei is helping her, is because he needs to find out what happened to his sister. Will Hei and Kana find out the truth behind Kana's father and the mysterious sister of Hei?

Darker Thank Black Characters

Characters Hei and Kana

Hei is the main character of Darker Than Black. He is also called BK201 and the Black Reaper. He is a very strange Contractor with the ability of Electricity. Kana is the other main character of the manga. She is just a normal human being only trying to find her father. Musik is a mysterious character that Hei hopes will lead to his sister.
The other characters of Darker Than Black include Krang, Shizuma, Kanon, and  Dale. They are all part of the Wiegenlied. Shizuma and Dale are both contractors, Shizuma with water power and Dale with mud like abilities. Krang and Kanon are Dolls. Krang has the ability to resonate items until they crumble. He is the leader of Wiegenlied. Kanon is a medium and can only use this ability through mobile phones.

Darker Than Black Contractors

Contractors

Contractors are humans that have visited either Hell's Gate or Heaven's Gate. Doing so gives them super human powers. Each power is given out individually to humans who can take on the task. For this they give up the ability to feel emotions. Using their powers makes their eyes turn red and they have to give a payment. The must pay a price to use their powers. Either it be by eating a small round object every time or wearing ears while using the powers, a price will be paid. Hei seems to be the only Contractor with the ability to feel some emotion.


Over all, Darker Than Black was really good. Mostly only because there is a sequel. The first series is only two volumes long and does not explain that much. Not much is explained until the second series. It seems to be a more up to date version of X-Men.

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Overall Grade 7/10

Gravel Kingdom Manga Review

Manga Cover

I love Kaori Yuki's art style, so of course I had to e read Gravel Kingdom. I really did not know what to expect from this manga, but I felt like I had heard the names before. Her character names in Gravel Kingdom are really similar to Angel Sanctuary. This really didn't bother me though. She always has great art and a great plot to make up for anything that may not seem right.

Gravel Kingdom Plot

Manga Page

The Kingdom of Time is placed in an ever growing desert. Within this desert is a cursed people called Sand Biters. They lure humans into the desert and kill them. A young prince, Kirameki, is about to be given the throne against his wishes. He only wants to be like his guard and best friend Kanai. His childhood friend, Worry, is about to become the reincarnation of the water goddess, Serifita. To save her and to be able to see her again, Kirameki must take the throne. The only problem is, Saga. He is his half brother and true heir to the throne. Saga comes from no where and has his own plans to take over the throne and take vengeance on the kingdom.

Gravel Kingdom Characters

Manga Page

Kirameki is the main character of Gravel Kingdom. He is the young prince and a bit rebellious towards his fate. He is hard headed and protective of his loved ones. Kanai is Kirameki's servant and best friend. He vows everlasting protection to Kirameki. Worry is a childhood friend of Kirameki and was sold by her parent to the holy place as a priestess. Saga is Kirameki's half brother and has a lot of animosity towards the kingdom. He takes revenge for his dead mother.

Gravel Kingdom was a good short story to read. The story could have gone on for longer but I understand why it was short. Kaori Yuki always gives a great manga to read, even if it a short one. He short stories always seem to be lacking a good thick plot. They mainly only stick to one story and that is all. I would recommend reading Gravel Kingdom if you are a Kaori Yuki fan.

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Overall Grade 8/10

Rustblaster Manga Review

Manga Cover

I had no idea what Rustblaster was about when I started to read it. I only wanted to read it because it was by Toboso Yana (Black Butler). I just love the artwork that Yana produces. The main plot is really not about them being vampires at all. It seems to be another manga about working together to achieve  goal. I feel as though I have read a lot of those here lately.

Rustblaster Plot

Manga Page

Rustblaster about a vampire academy called 1000 Year Academy. Vampires go here to train and become real vampires, but they do not drink blood. They try to assimilate into the human culture. Each Vampire has their own Lineage Weapons. The only one who does not is a vampire named Aldred. He actually has a special weapon unlike any other. He has a human as a weapon. A spear was created a long time ago and sealed in a body to protect it. The vampire that can control the weapon can not have a Lineage Weapon. The true vampires threaten the academy's existence by breaking the gates to their world. Al must stop the true vampires from coming into the real world and destroying all he holds dear.

Rusbtlaster Characters

Rustblaster Characters

Aldred is the main character of Rustblaster. He is a very hyper young adult and only wants to protect his friends. He is also the leader of Team 6. His followers are Kodachi, Lydi, Faye, and Rengokuin. Kodachi is a female vampire who can incinerate her foes. Lydi is young female vampire with the power to use force fields. Faye is a male vampire with high regards to his leader Al. Rengokuin is not only the comedic relief but also the tech of the group. Kei is the only human in which is in the manga. He is the key to the spear that Al uses. Six and Seven are actual vampires that try to break down the gates. They are very powerful and have weapon similar to Al's.

Rustblaster Vampire Wars

Vampires

So what is the whole deal with real and half vampires in Rustblaster? A long time ago vampires entered into the human world though the gates that the academy protects. Of course they came to feed off of the humans. When humans started to notice this, they began to kill vampires without hesitation on whether it was a child or woman or man. They fought them back and sealed the gates. Only the half lings were left. The ones who live side by side with the humans. They protect the gate.

The story was good and honestly Rustblaster should have been a longer manga. I feel as though the story would have not been rushed at that point. The plot is quick and not filled with a lot of details at first. The battles are short and some of the characters seem pointless at times. When the end of the manga arrives, though, everything comes together.

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Overall Grade 8/10

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion Manga Review

Manga Cover

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion was just another short manga I read out of boredom. It was really good though. The story was sort of a mystery/romance genre. The main story was about a girl named Erina and her brother Takashi. Someone gets killed and th emystery must be solved. I was sort of reminded of Scooby-Doo when I read Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion.

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion Plot

Manga Page

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion is about a brother and sister who have no one else but each other. Takashi leaves behind his high school sister to travel to Turkey. His sister, Erina is left behind with foster parents. The only living relative she has is Takashi. When she hears that her brother is involved in a murder, she can not believe it. She travels to Turkey in an attempt to find him and get his side of the story. The only clues she has is a random letter and a necklace she acquired from her brother. She follows the clues to find a terrible secret and even drugs.

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion Characters

Erina and Alp

Since Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion is a short manga, the character list is a bit slim. The main character is a female high school student named Erina. She is a quiet, but driven girl who only wishes to clear her brothers name. Sinclair represents the NPO "Hurriyet" in Turkey. Serifemika was Takashi's girlfriend and also works for the same organization. She seems sweet at first, but watch out. Alp is a mysterious man whom Erina actually relies on in the end. He has a secret of his own though.

Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion was a really good short manga to read. It honestly was a good story. It was a bit sad towards the end, but it was needed in order to end properly. I would recommend anyone who likes a good romance story to read Akatsuki ni Tatsu Lion.

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Overall Grade 8/10

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah Manga Review

Manga Cover

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah is another short manga. It is a great read though. At first it seems like it would be a futuristic coming to manhood story. It really threw me off though. The art was another throw off. It seemed a little childish at first, but it was really just how the characters were.

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah Plot

Manga Page

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah is about a young boy trying to become his childhood hero, Cristo. Cristo was an SS class Sweeper, the best there was as well. Towa, the young boy, immediately went to the lower zones to kill Adyss' after passing the sweeper exams. There he meets Cristo, not knowing at first, and asked for him to train him. After realizing who Cristo is, Towa becomes involved in a fight. The fight is between Cristo and Kamura. The fight goes back to their very 'birth'. Another secret also lies deeply hidden in Cristo's mind.

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah Characters

Bottom Left - Kamura, Middle Left - Aoki, Middle - Cristo (Kei), and Middle Right - Towa

Towa is the main character of Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah. He is a hard headed child following a dream. Cristo (Kei) is a quiet person, but an excellent fighter. Kamura is equal to Cristo and has a very different personality. And the final major character is Aoki. He is a very messy person and a doctor as well. Each character plays their role in story somehow. They each have a demon they are having and must overcome.

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah Adyss and Sweepers

AN Adyss

The Adyss are creatures that have been showing up in the lower regions. People are trained to kill these creatures, they are called Sweepers. When an Adyss is killed they have nucleus that hardens and remains. Sweepers sell these to guilds to make a living. There is a deeper darker secret to the Adyss though.

Cristo - Orange-Eyed Messiah was a great short story to read. The characters are easily likable. The story itself has the right amount of information for you to know what is going on. There really is no fluff in this manga.

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Overall Grade 6/10

Blank Slate Manga Review

Manga Cover

Blank Slate starts out with a man pointing a gun at another man. It captivates you from the beginning. There are a total of eight chapters in this short manga series. If you feel like reading a good quick story, Blank Slate is the manga to pick up.

Blank Slate Plot

Zen

A man called Zen has lost all his memories. There is only one instinct he follows and that is to kill. He assassinates people for the fun of it, not the money. The first few chapters are just and introduction to the characters that are involved in the final chapter. Not much can be said without giving away a few good twist plots. Zen will find the answer to his past, but it may not be the one he is looking for. 

Blank Slate Characters

Zen and Hakka

Zen is the main character of Blank Slate. He is very cold and distant to any human. The only partner he wishes to take with him ends up being a doctor named Hakka. Hakka is a very peaceful man and lives in a small village helping anyone. Zen meets other characters along the way, but only Hakka and Zen are mainly in the manga. 

Blank Slate The War

Chapter End

Basically everything is revolved around a war between two different people. It is a war of race basically between the Galay and Amata. Many people died and the Amata suffered a lot of losses. The Galay used a super human weapon during the war that was made up of from Yama. Many people are wanting revenge for what happened during the war.

Blank Slate was a great assassin manga. Anyone who likes guns and deep plots, this is the manga to read. It is short and easy to get through too.

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Overall Grade 7/10

Kamui Manga Review

Manga Volume One

The only reason I picked Kamui up to read was because the main character looked like Clamps character Kamui from X/1999. The story is actually a little (a little) similar. The only thing I hated was that it seemed the climax of the story hit a little early and it just declines very slowly from that point. It just seems as if they couldn't wait to get the secret out there. I will try my best to give a review while giving very little away.

Kamui Plot

Atsuma

The has been through a few shocks and monsters called Atanan attack cities often. NOA was an organization created a little before this devastation. There they experimented on humans attempting to reach the goal of a sorcery user. Now these humans use their ability to protect the people of the city. At the top if General Shiki and below him is Lady Sumire and Lord Hyde. They each have their own objective in the organization. Shiki is the only one who gets orders from the true boss.

Atsuma is a boy from the north. He traveled to NOA to find the okikurumi. The okikurumi is a god spirit that was stolen from his village. He is infused with another god called Kojomaru. He gets into NOA and becomes a student there. Lady Sumire was the one who insisted he joined. There he meets several people and becomes friends with a few of them. He soons finds himself fighting fot a new purpose.

Kamui Characters

Shiki, Atsuma, Aika, and Sumeri

There are alot of characters involved in Kamuu. I am only going to name the main characters from the story. Atsuma is obviously the main character. He is a very isolated and has an abusive past. He is only in a contract with Kojomaru to become free. He meets Lady Sumire in a fight with an Atanan. She is a wind master and is very fierce. She  uses men and does not consider the consequences at times. She is really only in love with one man though. Shui is a fire user in the NOA organization. He is a subordinate under Lady Sumeri and sees Atsuma as a younger brother. He watches over him and takes care of him. Aika is Lady Sumeri's assistant. She is very attached to her because she took her in when Aika was nothing. General Shiki is at the top of NOA. He is in love with Sumeri and keeps her as a caged butterfly in the building. Lord Hyde is a very evil character but he is short lived. His underling Yanagi brings him back to life. Yanagi is actually the puppeteer in the relationship.

Kamui NOA

NOA from afar

The NOA organization in the manga Kamui, was once a National Biological Research Center.NOA protected the city from the earthquake. Now it is under control of a new leader,. There they do research on guinea pigs. They test out power users and create them as well. NOA stands for Noble Offensive Academy. They protect the people from Atanan attacks. Here there are hundreds of students who are power users and are ranked by their ability. The supreme leaders are again, Shiki, Hyde and Sumeri.

The basic plot of Kamui is actually very simple. Everyone needs a person to lean on at times. Every character has been abandoned by a loved one or just by everyone. Every character comes to terms with the loss and handle it in a different. way. By the end of the manga, some end up happy while others end up empty handed. The power of a relationship goes a long way to anyone.

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Overall Grade 7/10

Saiyuki Reloaded (Manga) Review

Saiyuki Reload Manga Review

Manga Cover

Sayuki Reload is a continuation of The Sanzo's Party through Shangri-La. It starts off right where Saiyuki leaves off. There are of course new characters and new bad guys involved in the story. Koukaiji and there group rarely show up in this series.

Saiyuki Reload Plot

Hakkai and Goku

Like I said, Saiyuki Reload picks up from the end of Saiyuki. Sanzo, Goyjo, Hakkai, and Goku are traveling in Shangri-La to stop Gyumaohs awakening. This will bring peace to the Shangri-La area and to humans and Youkai alike. This series mainly focuses on Sanzo and a past enemy Ukoku.

A man named Hazel and his body guard Gat, go around to towns and clean up the youkai and the mess they make. He brings people back to life. These people will have yellow eyes and have a strong dislike of youkais. This causes a problem with Sanzo's three friends. When they find out who is behind it they challenge Hazel and Gat. Soon they travel the same paths but generally not together.

Ukoku is actually a friend of Hazel. He tells Hazel that Goku is a very strong being, not youkai or human. Ukoku tries to stir things up by attacking Goku. He is sending a message to Sanzo. Sanzo leaves his party and travels with Hazel and Gat for a while trying to find Ukoku. The two parties are always close together but never meet until the end of the manga. They all face Ukoku for a final battle and revenge.

Saiyuki Reload Characters

Hakkai, Hazel, Sanzo, Goku, Goyjo, and Gat

Saiyuki Reload contains basically every main character from Saiyuki. The main group consists of Genjo Sanzo, Goyjo, Hakkai, and Goku. Sanzo is a Buddhist high priest, Goyjo is a brash ladies man, Hakkai is a thinker, and Goku is a money god. They are all really different but work together well.

The characters of Saiyuki Reload is Hazel, Gat, and Ukoku. Hazel is a western priest. He has the ability to bring people back to life by using youkai souls. Gat is Hazels body guard. He is the only human killed by Hazel and therefore Hazel feels responsible for him. He constantly brings him back to life. Ukoku was given the Muten scripture but never the name of Sanzo. He feels resentment for this and thus he is a very cold character. He has a good personality surprisingly enough and can talk his way into anything.

Saiyuki Reload Scriptures

Muten Scripture at Work

In Saiyuki Reload there are scriptures that were given to different priests of the buddhist religion. These scriptures are very powerful together but not so destructive apart. These priests are called Sanzos, the scriptures are called Tenchi Kaigen Kyoumon. There are a total of five sutras. They are called the Maten, Seiten, Muten, Uten, and Kouten. The Maten is the scripture over evil and yin and is held by Genjo Sanzo. Genjos Sanzo also carries the Seiten scripture which is over holiness and yang. The Kouten is held by Sharak Sanzo and has the power over the unkown and infinite. The Uten scripture has the power over life and existence and is held by the Gyumaoh side. The Muten is held by Ukoku and has the power over death and nothingness.

Saiyuki Reload is a great travels tale. The story only gets better with each series for sure. I would recommend reading this manga if you are a fan of any Samurai or Buddhist manga.

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Overall Grade 8/10

Saiyuki Manga Review

Manga Cover Volume 1

Saiyuki is a great manga to read. It really is not that hard to get throug and has some amazing fighting scenes. Plus you get to learn a little about Buddhism as well. It is a bit hard at first to tell what era they are in due to the clothing and the weapons being misleading at times. The four main characters are basically a monk gone bad, an intellectual, a perverted drunk, and a starving child. They seem to be the basics, but they really are not. This was a manga series I could not put down. It only took me two days to go through all nine volumes.

Saiyuki Plot

Sanzo and a Youkai

Saiyuki is about four men traveling together to gain perspective on why the Youkai's have gone crazy. Youkai's and humans lived in harmony at one point, but recently the Youkai's have started to kill people and do random things. It is up to Sanzo, Gojyo, Goku, and Hakkai to find out why. They are sent by Sanbutsushin on this quest. The Sanbutsushin consist of three 'aspects' of Buddha. They take orders from heaven. Sanzo and his group are constantly having to fight off Youkai's that have come for Gyumaoh's resurrection. Gyumaoh was a demon king that is now dead. His wife is attempting to give him life again but she needs the scriptures (one of which Sanzo carries).

Shangri-La is the setting in which this all take place. Here the humans and Youkai's have lived peacefully. Some have even fallen in love with the opposite being even though this is forbidden. Most towns fear any Youkai whether they are sane or not. This makes it hard for the group to travel due to the fact that Gojyo, Goku, and Hakkai are all Youkai. They have bands or protection on them that makes them immune to what has happened to the Youaki.

Saiyuki Characters

Characters

There are four main characters of Saiyuki. Genjyo Sanzo is teh team leader. He is the only human of the four. He is held in a high position with Buddhists everywhere due to his name. He loves to smoke and is the shoot first maybe ask questions later kind of guy. Goku is the monkey king and the rest of the group does not let him forget he is a 'monkey.' He is constantly wanting to eat and sleep and do childish things. He may look like a teenager but in reality he is older than he lets on. Gojyo is the ladies man. He is hot tempered and tries to sleep with any woman he can. He is also a chain smoker and a drinker. The last person in the group is Hakkai. He is the quiet and intellectual man of the group. He has a bloody past though.

The other characters in the manga are people that show up from someones past or part of  Gyumaoh resurrection. Of the people that end up bringing someone's past back, only three seem to be a big part of the story. Sanzo ends up having two people show up at separate times attempting to get revenge. Shuei once knew Sanzo when he was little. He took up for Sanzo when the older monks made fun of him. He later comes back as Rikudo, a Fuda user who kills any Youkai without question. A man calling himself Kami-Sama was once an acquaintance of Sanzo. He ends up stealing the Maten scripture Sanzo carries.

The Youkai involved in the Gyumaoh's resurrection are Kougaiji, Lirin, Dokugakuji, Yaone, Gyukumen Koushou, and Ni Jianyi. Gyukumen Koushou is the mastermind behind the Youkai's chasing Sanzo and many other things. She is the legal wife of Gyumaoh. They have a daughter Lirin, which Gyukumen intends to sacrifice to save Gyumaoh. Kougaiji is Gyumaoh's son and half brother to Lirin. He only wants to save his mother. He has two friends that act as guards for him: Dokugakuji (Gojyo's half brother) and Yaone (a medicine user).

Saiyuki and the Youkai

Youkai

Youkai is just another word for demon in the Saiyuki manga. The Youkai only live in the Shangri-La area though. Some are evil, but some do live normal lives. A Youkai family can often be seen in the Shangri-La area. There are Youkai's and humans that fall in love and have a child. This is, again, forbidden to do. The child will come out having crimson hair and eyes. This is how you can tell if they are a half breed. Gojyo and Kougaiji are both products of a Youkai and human relationship.

I hated that the manga was split up into two separate series. Saiyuki, again, was a great manga. The story does not end though and continues onto another series. Honestly they should have just put it together, but possibly for marketing reasons they could not. I would recommend reading Saiyuki especially if you like Samurai/Buddhist related mangas.

Overall Grade 8/10